New
Report on the Risks of Lawn-Care Pesticides (Beyond Pesticides, June 24, 2003) Lawn-care pesticides
pose threats to human health and the environment, according to a new
ground-breaking, 100-page, year-long research study report to be released
this morning by the Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), a non-profit
research organization composed of doctors, public health professionals,
and policy experts.

The report includes
findings of major problems, including inadequate packaging and labeling
of lawn-care pesticides. These toxic products are found in broken and
leaking bags in many stores. The report details EHHI's investigation
into how lawn-care pesticides are inadequately packaged and labeled,
along with the scientific basis for worries about these chemicals' potential
to cause cancer, disrupt the hormonal system and harm fetuses, among
other adverse health effects.

How has the pesticide
industry kept the public in the dark about the serious health risks
associated with lawn-care pesticides? Why are there no laws governing
where lawn-care pesticides can be sold? These products are currently
being sold in many stores next to food products or piled up next to
check-out counters, despite the fact that pesticides pose special hazards
for pregnant women. Some of these products are potentially carcinogenic,
others are neurotoxic and some are capable of harming fetuses, according
to EHHI's research.

The report will
be released at a press conference this morning. Those presenting the
findings of the report and recommendations for policy changes will be:

John Wargo, Ph.D.,
professor of Policy and Risk Analysis at Yale University and board member
of EHHI.

D. Barry Boyd, M.D.,
an oncologist at Greenwich Hospital and an affiliate member of the Yale
Cancer Center. Among his research areas is environmental risk factors
for cancer. He is a board member of EHHI.

Susan Addiss, MPH,
MUrS, past commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Public Health
and board member of EHHI.